HUDSON VALLEY UPDATE | FALL/WINTER | 2019 Hudson Valley depends on us.

IN THIS ISSUE Celebrating Conservation Victories Preparing for Raising a Glass to CONNECT WITH NATURE Protecting Land and Water nature.org/newyork DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE

NEW YORK STATE BOARD OF TRUSTEES Celebrating James A. Attwood, Jr., Chair Daniel C. Chung, Campaign Chair Conservation Victories Matthew B. Arnold

Fazena Bacchus Dear Friend of The Nature Conservancy, Brian D. Baird

Richard S. Berry Thank you for supporting our work to conserve the lands and

Anla Cheng waters of the Hudson Valley. This region, with its tapestry of landscapes, cascading waterfalls, and rich history, is my home. As Soraya Darabi you are undoubtedly aware, Hudson Valley farms, communities, Michelle J. DePass and waterways are impacted by a changing climate, threatening Anne R. Erni local economies and our quality of life.

Samuel V. Howe The Conservancy works here and around the world to forge Hannah Jaris solutions so that people and nature can thrive, now and for Susannah S. Kagan generations to come. In this newsletter, I am pleased to share a few recent accomplishments

Nathaniel J. Klipper from this region, made possible by your support.

Eric Krasnoff Just this past year, the Conservancy: J.P. Maheu • Secured New York’s nation-leading commitment to tackle climate change—a Jennifer Maritz mandate for 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040 and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Donald Mullen , coordinating dozens Patricia H. Nadosy • Produced the first-ever Restoration Plan for the Hudson River of environmental, community, and agency partners to chart a blueprint for a healthier river Inosi M. Nyatta and flood-resilient communities. Daniel D. O’Neill , expanding trails and John F. Savarese • Added 11 acres to Westchester’s Mianus River Gorge Preserve important wildlife habitat to 1,200 acres, including one of the last stands of old-growth Laurie Saylak forest in the Northeast. William D. Solecki, Ph.D. With your help, we are creating a more sustainable world, starting in New York. I hope the Eleanor J. Sterling, Ph.D. following pages will inspire you to learn more at nature.org/newyork. Sabra C. Turnbull

Sarah M. Underhill Thank you

Charles M. Zegar

Joseph H. Gleberman, Chair Emeritus

Bill Ulfelder, Executive Director Jim Attwood Board Chair, The Nature Conservancy in New York

BREWERIES HOP ONBOARD EFFORT TO CONSERVE FORESTS The Nature Conservancy and nearly 200 breweries around America teamed up this fall The Nature Conservancy is a private, non- to celebrate OktoberForest, a campaign to protect forests and the water they provide. profit 501(c)(3) international membership organization. Its mission is to conserve the Forests filter more than half of America’s water, which is beer’s main ingredient. But our lands and waters on which all life depends. forests face serious threats—and many need restoration. The OktoberForest campaign The Nature Conservancy meets all of the Standards for Charity Accountability featured forest-themed events, hikes, presentations and social networking to raise established by the BBB Wise Giving Alliance. The BBB Wise Giving Alliance is a national awareness of woodland health. Go to oktoberforest.org to learn more. charity watchdog affiliated with the Better Business Bureau.

COVER © Charles Gleberman PREPARING FOR CLIMATE CHANGE Communities Preparing for Climate Change

Climate change is affecting the Hudson Valley in tangible As a result, the Conservancy and partners are working to ways. Heavy precipitation causes widespread floods, rising implement holistic plans to improve community resilience seas erode our shores, and record-breaking temperatures including protecting and restoring shorelines, salt marshes and strain our cities. other critical coastal habitats.

And in communities up and down the Hudson, sea level To determine the best courses of action forward, with input rise, and more frequent and intense storms are pushing from residents, the Conservancy and its partners are conducting infrastructure beyond its limits. Community Resilience Building workshops. This publicly- driven approach is starting to build capacity and educational “Wastewater systems in many low-lying areas are going opportunities in the region. past their design capacities, which has a direct effect on both people and wildlife,” says Andrew Peck, ecologist and “So far, we’ve hosted six workshops throughout the Hudson resilience specialist for The Nature Conservancy in New Valley, encompassing 16 communities—in places like Croton-on- York. “During heavy rains, water rushes down into our Hudson, Buchanan, Cortlandt, Beacon and Fishkill—to name a valleys, and as many as twelve regional sewage treatment few. We have an additional 15 communities engaged in workshop systems become inundated with water, releasing raw preparations through 2020.” effluent into the Hudson.” In the sessions, participants identify current climate-related This effects recreation, water quality and the economy. and challenges. Residents can begin to generate actions that reduce the vulnerability of their homes, businesses, Wetlands and floodplains can help—they serve as nature’s and parks, to name a few. Together, they agree on priority actions first line of defense against storms, flooding and sea-level to reduce climate-related challenges today, and in the future. rise; they also offer habitat for fish, birds and other wildlife, and filter water. But in many shoreline communities, they “The bottom line is, we are building capacity to empower are degrading at an alarming pace, leaving people and communities in the Hudson Valley to become more resilient in nature at risk. the face of climate change.” © Charles Gleberman As towns throughout the region experience the worsening impacts of climate change, nature is needed now more than ever—to absorb carbon pollution and to help buffer communities from flooding, drought, and .

NATURE.ORG/NEWYORK 3 RAISING A GLASS TO NATURE

Rich Olsen-Harbich of Bedell Vineyards, Long Island. © Kara Jackson/The Nature Conservancy Raising a Glass to Nature

For New York’s farmers, climate change isn’t looming in Hudson Valley the distant future—it’s happening now. And when it comes In the Hudson Valley, home of some of the country’s oldest to growing grapes, more frequent storms cause the fruit to vineyards, new weather patterns bring challenges. The river mildew and rot. Heavy rainfalls erode soil and damage vines. moderates the climate, but the area’s high humidity, precipitation And rising temperatures coincide with increased humidity, and cooler temperatures dictate which vines will thrive. which leads to more pests. Matthew Spaccarelli, a winemaker at Benmarl Winery Even the slightest of changes can affect the timing of acknowledges the recent hurdles created by climate change. harvest, the quantity of grapes produced, and the quality He plans to adapt his practices to deal with the changing climate, and complexity of the wine. improve of his vineyard, and keep the wine flowing.

Finger Lakes Whether in the Hudson Valley, Finger Lakes, or Long Island, the “The wine industry should be highly concerned about and increasingly extreme and unpredictable weather is attributable to taking the lead in mitigating and adapting to climate change,” climate change, and that’s hard on winegrowers and all farmers. explained Suzanne Hunt, who is a partner in her family’s seventh generation farm and winery, Hunt Country Vineyards. “We can do everything Recently, Hunt has seen direct impacts of climate change —flash floods, followed by drought and damage to the vines from wildly variable temperatures in winter. perfectly in our vineyards and

Long Island perfectly in the wine cellar but Richard Olsen-Harbich of Bedell Cellars, a pioneer in Long Island winemaking, notes, “Most vines are ripening their it will all be for nothing if we crops earlier than they used to and that’s something that grape growers across the world are seeing as well.” don’t solve the climate crisis,” Benjamin Cook, a climate scientist at the NASA Goddard Institute, concurs that earlier harvests are happening—but – Suzanne Hunt, that doesn’t necessarily make grape growing easier. With higher moisture levels, damper vines may need fungicide or Hunt Country Vineyards. pesticide treatment.

We depend on nature, not only to grow grapes for wine, but also for the food we eat every day. The Nature Conservancy works to share new practices with farmers and equip them with resources and tools they need to adapt to and mitigate climate change, while safeguarding their livelihoods and protecting lands and waters. Visit nature.org/climate for more information.

4 HUDSON VALLEY UPDATE FALL/WINTER 2019 PROTECTING LAND AND WATER © Byron Jorjorian Making History Through Conservation and Policy

NEW TOOLS PROTECT MORE LAND THAN EVER At 253,000 acres, the Cumberland Forest Project, one of the Conservancy’s largest-ever conservation efforts in the eastern United States, protects sweeping forest landscapes in the Central Appalachians, across parts of Southwest , Kentucky and Tennessee. Safeguarding this vast stretch of forest tackles climate change on two fronts: by storing millions of tons of carbon dioxide and by connecting a migratory corridor that scientists believe to be one of ’s most important “escape routes” as animal species, from warblers to bobcats, shift their ranges to cooler climates.

And there’s another boon.

Much of the Cumberland Forest Project was structured as an investment fund by the Conservancy’s NatureVest division—a team that leverages private investment capital to conserve at a greater scale and a faster pace. By carefully managing these forests under Forest Stewardship Council certification and selling the carbon offsets produced, the forests’ health will improve while generating revenue for our conservation-minded investors, local foresters and mills.

This model also has implications for conservation in the years to come. Our science has shown that people and nature can thrive into the future but only if we act now. By managing forests in a way that is both ecologically beneficial and economically sound, the Cumberland project demonstrates an important tool in achieving that future.

NEW YORK PASSES LANDMARK CLIMATE LEGISLATION New York State recently passed the most powerful climate legislation in the United States. Our policy team spent long days at the Capitol, working closely with conservation partners and elected officials to craft the new law: the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. It will drastically cut carbon pollution, safeguard New York’s clean energy programs, and invest in under-resourced communities. This new bill mandates that New York reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, 70 percent renewable energy by 2030, and an equitable transition to a low-carbon future—showing the nation how to effectively fight climate change.

NATURE.ORG/NEWYORK 5 CONNECTING PEOPLE AND NATURE Championing Conservation in New York and Beyond

We recently caught up with Bedford Falls residents Gregg What about the Conservancy’s work and Gelman and Joseph Hershberger—who serve on The Nature mission is most meaningful to you? Conservancy’s New York Leadership Council—to ask them Joe: They tackle the root causes of the big issues of our time. about their personal connections to nature. It’s a fact based scientific approach that delivers results.

What attracts you to conservation? Gregg: The Conservancy’s relentless pursuit to create a better How did you get involved? world through meaningful acts of education, legislation and Gregg: I am attracted to conservation because it is the most concrete programs that effect change is amazing. selfless and selfish of causes. Watching friends create a better world for themselves and future generations is inspirational. Joe & Gregg: We feel privileged to be able to contribute to It is hard not to feel the need to participate. their work.

Joe: I have been sensitive to the degradation of the natural What are your hopes for the future when it environment and plight of wildlife for as long as I can comes to nature? remember. Hearing Joni Mitchell sing about the birds, bees Gregg: I hold out hope that younger generations, with the most and trees in “Big Yellow Taxi” raised my consciousness to at stake, will make it their mission to help save our planet, when I was very young. making the preservation of nature their top priority.

In terms of environmental solutions, what Joe: The Conservancy’s relentless pursuit to create a better needs to happen in the next few years? world through meaningful acts of education, legislation and Joe: We have to rethink how we travel and interact as a concrete programs that effect change is amazing. society to reduce our reliance on the automobile. Whether massive investment in mass transit or in technological advancements for increased fuel efficiency and alternative fuel sources. The traffic congestion in our cities and related environmental impact is heartbreaking.

Gregg: There needs to be a change in the current political situation. If we have leaders who see it in their best interest to roll back environmental and wildlife protections and not even acknowledge the crisis of climate change, it is hard to imagine a future without grave implications for our planet. There have been amazing advancements at the state level that demonstrate that we can make a difference. “I am attracted to conservation because it is the most selfless and selfish

of causes.” – Gregg Gelman A breathtaking view of the mountains of Patagonia.

6 HUDSON VALLEY UPDATE FALL/WINTER 2019 BY THE NUMBERS By the Numbers

The Nature Conservancy was born with the purchase of Mianus River Gorge Preserve in 1955 right here in New York. Since then, we have conserved more than 815,000 acres across the state. We continue to be a conservation leader and are proud to have been the first state program to establish programs to make our water cleaner, our oceans healthier and our cities thriving. © The Nature Conservancy © 0 1st 1,000 400 carbon emissions in New of-its-kind boat wash station trees planted for habitat volunteers planted 7,000 trees York by 2050 thanks along a major highway opened restoration and water and cleaned up debris as part the passage of the most at the I-87 Adirondacks quality protection at the of a climate-resilience project ambitious climate Welcome Center to help newly expanded Eagle Crest at Brooklyn’s Marine Park. legislation in the protect waters from impacts Preserve in the Finger Lakes. United States. of invasive plants. 16 566 Hudson Valley communities Suffolk County grants engaged in climate-resilient provided to homeowners future workshops. for the installation of new nitrogen reducing septic systems. 1,030 infestations of invasive plants completely removed $500 in the Adirondacks. million more statewide for drinking water protection and 132 distinct whales observed infrastructure upgrades. feeding on menhaden around NYC by our partners at Gotham Whale. © The Nature Conservancy

NATURE.ORG/NEWYORK 7 The Nature Conservancy Hudson Valley New York City Office 322 Eighth Avenue, 16th Floor New York, NY 10001 nature.org/newyork

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© Andy Raupp VISIT OUR PRESERVES Experience this season’s cool temperatures and changing colors at one of our many preserves throughout the Hudson Valley region. To plan your visit, check out nature.org/newyork